Merely Speculative Featured Image | Theophilus Chin
Rumors pointing to the possible development of an SUV with the cavallino rampante emblem are nothing new. Although nothing has yet come to fruition, speculation that has lasted for several years promises to continue, and not for lack of denials – already on several occasions the responsibles of the brand have denied the introduction of an SUV in the Ferrari range.
With the Lamborghini Urus about to hit the market, it looks like the inevitable will happen. According to CAR magazine, at the brand's headquarters in Maranello, Ferrari officials are already working on a project from which a model with SUV features will be born. And this project already has a name: F16X.
According to the British publication, the new model will be developed side by side with the next generation of the GTC4Lusso (below) – a model in itself a little different from the rest of the brand's sports cars, due to its “shooting brake” style.
In terms of aesthetics, similarities to the GTC4Lusso (featured image) are to be expected, with the new model adopting the characteristics of a traditional SUV: five doors, high ground clearance, plastics around the bodywork and all-wheel drive.
As for the engine, the SUV is on the front line to be the Italian brand's second hybrid model, after the LaFerrari in 2013. Instead of opting for the GTC4Lusso's 6.3 liter V12 atmospheric (680 hp and 697 Nm) block, everything indicates that Ferrari will bet on a V8 engine aided by an electric drive, with a power level yet to be specified.
After a record year in 2016, this year Ferrari hopes to approach 8500 units. And who knows, in the near future, Ferrari will not even surpass the 10,000-unit level – for that we will have to wait for official confirmation of the new SUV.